Weather

Big Delta resident Tom Gorman said a small dam he built earlier this year to protect his home from the meandering Tanana River held steady over the past couple of weeks as the river rose to near-flood level, due to recent rains. Gorman now hopes the river falls quickly enough to allow him to finish work on the dam before snow flies.

After more than a week, a 38,000-acre wildfire on the California coast is still growing, and authorities warn it could burn through August even after it is contained.

Equatorial Pacific Ocean finally shows signs of cooling, but the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea are still extremely warm. Latest research indicates both phenomenon helped with each other’s formation between 2013 and 2015.

A little precipitation and the shifting winds will help dampen the fire, though smoke will likely blow over the Anchorage Bowl.

The Alaska National Guard is now supporting wildfire suppression efforts on the McHugh Creek fire near Anchorage.

There could be a little rain early Thursday morning. It’s not much, but it should bring more humidity and lower temperatures.